Sonntag, Mai 27, 2007

Herr Marcel L’Herbier was one of the most important French silent pioneers of his time and he is highly considered by this German count due to his avant-garde spirit and whose oeuvre maintains its merits even today.

“Rose-France” is a very good example of those qualities and Herr L’Herbier's skills because this time he put together in a remarkable way, avant-garde technique and romanticism.

Even for a German count who doesn’t have heart in the long haired sense ( the aristocracy only use that muscle due to its useful functionality ) was moved by the tormented love story depicted in the film: A young lady accepts a rose from an anonymous hand, a fact that arouses the anger of her fiancée, a man tormented by jealousy and his experience in the recent great war. He knows there is no rose without a thorn and, obsessed by this fact, he later will discover that his beloved wrote a book sometime ago, an oeuvre that included poems in what it seems to be a declaration of love for another man).

As this German count said before, the most astonishing aspect of this film is the combination of different techniques in order to elaborate a story of romanticism, a film of “amour fou” full of beautiful images including art symbolisms and classic pictorial reminiscences; not in vain Herr L’Herbier belong to the “Impressionists”, a French club or “societé” that included important names as Herr Gance or Herr Epstein. This is not to overlook the war echoes of the oeuvre, so important to contrast the naked truth against idealized dreams.

Probably the most transgressive, original and even “provocateur” aspect depicted in the film is its implicit patriotism entwined with love matters; a risky subject because in hands of an inexperienced director the final result could turn into a ridiculous demagogic film but thanks Gott and in spite of the fact that “Rose-France” was one of the first films directed by Herr L’Herbier, he clearly knew what he wanted to achieve and expressed it accordingly.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must go yell to his gardener.

Donnerstag, Mai 17, 2007

“Pollyanna” was a film directed by Herr Paul Powell which starred Dame Mary Pickford. This was a faithful first adaptation for the screen of the famous and best-seller novel written by Eleanor H. Porter. It was very difficult to understand for this German Count due to the strange concepts and feelings with which this silent film deals. They include such strange subjects for the aristocracy like kindness, merriment and solidarity (thanks Gott there is also in the film evil aunties, bad weather and illness, German earthly matters that this aristocrat knows well).

Obviously such film story with human sentiments (another orphan in trouble) was perfect for Dame Pickford. This film was her first work for United Artists, that Amerikan company founded by Herr Chaplin, Herr Griffith and Herr Fairbanks together with America’s sweetheart. She’s a glad girl who displays her charm and good intentions to anyone at hand.The film, as the book of which was based on, was a big success in those early silent times and many film critics considered this film as one of the best in Dame Pickford’s film career, a statement with which this German Count doesn’t agree.

Keeping in mind those kind-hearted and innocent characters ( Dame Pickford speciality ) and the context or even the taste of the popular audience in those early times, the film it is many ways, simplistic and predictable. That’s not to the mention Herr Powell’s direction which is monotonous and without risks. He seems to think that with Dame Pickford’s talent on the screen, that is enough for succeed. Although Dame Pickford gives her best effort, the Amerika’s sweethart has better performances, more elaborated, and the most incredible thing … credible.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count is glad to be again in Teutonic humour.

Sonntag, Mai 13, 2007

More than 10,000 visits are a lot even for a German Count who tries to be polite with such longhaired guests, not to mention that this aristocrat's servants can't pay attention to visitors as they deserve ( that is to say, in a strict Teutonic way ) because they have to attend the whims of their master permanently and 24 hours a day...

In spite of those setbacks, this German Count really appreciates those longhaired visits to his Schloss due to their interest in silent films, and that's what really matters - along with the fat and rich Teutonic heiresses, natürlich!.

Mittwoch, Mai 09, 2007

“A Little Princess” (keep in mind that this egregious person is an Amerikan one, for that reason doesn’t have anything in common with the European variety aristocracy ) was the first filmed version of the famous novel written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the first of many important names in this film directed by Herr Marshall Neilan.

Another well-known name is Dame Frances Marion, a beginner then in those silent days but a more important one as times passes and the talkies came along. Whe adapted the literary story for the screen in a film that starred (the third important name to be considered) Amerika’s sweetheart Dame Mary Pickford. Pickford plays characters that the audience loves so much, that is to say, an innocent but responsible child with a heart of gold.

So, that’s the perfect excuse to watch girlies jumping about in a select English boarding house full of ribbons and laces, the girlies not the boarding house. It’s a place that obviously is managed by strict headmistress in what it is a classic and sugary film that depicts the terrible story of a rich girl that is educated (or something like that) in London. Her father dies in India having believed that his best friend betrayed him, a friend who shared with the deceased man a gold mine and the future and richness of our innocent child. For that reason, that poor (in the strict meaning of the word) creature is forced to exchange her carefree and easy life for a hard a terrible one as a servant in the boarding house, sharing sorrows with Becky (Zasu Pitts, the fourth important name included in this film), a simple girl.

Fortunately Christmas comes and puts things right, that is to say, riches in our heroine hands.

In technical aspects and direction the film is impeccable, even nowadays and by longhaired standards. It has an excellent art design and a naïf atmosphere that are perfect for this classic film story.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must return to merciless reality.

Freitag, Mai 04, 2007

The captain Michal Lazowski says goodbye in the Krakow railway station to his family; Wanda, his wife and Nelly, his beloved daughter.

Lazowski is going to war against the Soviets ( the Poles were very busy those silent days, fighting against their greedy neighbours ) but unfortunately he will caught by those Russian communists; in the U.S.R.R. he will work in an arms factory, be pursued by the bolshevists and then spends time in the Crimea, where a princess will fall in love with him. Obviously, Herr Lazowski had little time to be bored.

In the meantime, his wife, having had no news about her captain and assuming he is dead, decides to marry another man, Professor Glowinski. Her daughter Nelly doesn't approve and tries to kill herself by jumping in front of car, but fortunately in those days the automobiles were not going too fast so she survives.The same day that Lazowski’s wife is marrying another man, our hero finally makes it back to the motherland, Poland in this case, but he gets shot. This sacrifice is not in vain because it is in the service of the massive army led by the Pole independent leader, Herr Josef Pilsudski.

“Mogila Nieznanego Zolnierza” ( Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier ) was a patriotic film made in order to celebrate the 10th Polish independence anniversary. It was directed by Herr Ryszard Ordynski whose experience was s mostly in the theater ( he worked in the most important theatres of Europe and Amerika ). He met Herr Max Reinhardt in 1909 in Munich and had great influence on Ordynski’s theatre direction work. Unfortunately, this it is not reflected in this film which has little artistic merit( simplistic and unimaginative direction ) although it is very interesting for the silent archaeologists due that the fact that there are only 30 silent films in the Polish film archives ( many of them incomplete as is this film from which only survived 5 out of 10 acts). This last film puts an end to the Polish silent film programme showed in the Schloss during the last weeks; it was a great pleasure and a privilege for this German Count to discover such exotic oeuvres although that they were produced near the Schloss limits ( whatever they be ).

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must continue to be a polished but overall German aristocrat.